TurboLinux CEO Paul Thomas predicts that a single generic distribution of Linux that all Linux distributors will use is the wave of the future. Even more interesting are his comments that:

For a long time, Linux was dominated by hackers and somewhat of a less organized group. The result is a slowdown in innovation and a reluctance in enterprises to accept this solution. This has to grow up.

Already, most of the major Linux companies have joined the Linux Standards Base organization that is working on providing standards for Linux distributions that will ensure that software that confirms to the standards will run across all of the distributions.

ROB'S OPINION
This convergence of a huge amount of developers backed by corporate funds is leading to an amazing future for Linux. However, many of the original Linux hobbyists and zealots will feel left out in the cold as the operating system progresses to something that is radically different than anything they ever imagined, possibly losing a lot of the UNIX flavor that helped popularize it. For the consumer, this is a great thing, as we will have the ability to use a Linux that is developed by many companies working together, instead of guessing which Linux distribution fits our profile and rolling the dice. Also, the UNIX-like parts of the OS will be masked by a GUI that makes Linux look and feel like a slick graphical operating system.

It could be argued that the downside to the Linux convergence will be a lack of diversity. Thus, if some distributions do something one way and others do it another, then the more successful distributions will be the ones that cater to the most people. It's like software democracy at its finest. However, that lack of standardization leads to a lot more problems and confusion than it solves. Just look at the splintered UNIX market if you don't believe me. Some people would say that UNIX is doing fine, but I think they are living in a dreamworld. There are too many versions of UNIX. A lot of the UNIX love is created by UNIX admins and programmers who spend all day bad-mouthing Windows. I would say to them that they just dislike that which they don't understand. Soon, they will aim their salvos at Linux as well. Isn't FreeBSD more “hardcore” than Linux already?

We will eventually end up with a Linux that's not anything like what Linux started out as. However, since Linux is open source, there will always be more than one distribution and it will never be too hard to tailor Linux to the needs of even the most hard-core fringe Linux users. If you even doubt the wisdom of convergence, just think: do you want Linux to be competing against itself, or Windows?

USER COMMENTS 19 comment(s)

but linux is just a kernel!(3:42pm EST Mon Oct 09 2000)is he suggesting that gpl/open-source nature of linux will go away ('cuz until then i can package and distribute linux/gnu myself if i wanted to).

that would really suck! - by rwilson

.net(4:28pm EST Mon Oct 09 2000)i hope that linux takes off whenever microsoft's .net stuff happens. i'll never use any os that i have to pay for like an isp. what is MS thinking? well, they're thinking they'll make a lot of money. and they probably will, but i hope that they release games and a plug n play setup for linux and i'll convert and never use an MS OS again. - by dood

Linux in general(5:10pm EST Mon Oct 09 2000)does not have a chance against Microsoft unless it conforms to a set of universal standards, which Paul Thomas predicts it will. I welcome this, as viable competition will only improve the marketplace. Despite my allegiance to MS, Linux interests me, but without a cohesive strategy, it will always remain on the fringe, in the realm of the hobbyist. Some “geeks” may like it there, but it has the potential to be alot more. we will have to wait and see. BTW, that was a well written opinion, Rob. - by 0311Grunt

Let Linux Be free(6:05pm EST Mon Oct 09 2000)I am of the opinion that when corps get in the mix, the free thinker get pushed out of the way. Linux is what it is today because it was free to become whatever you needed. You can run a linux on a floppy or a full blown system and only use the parts you need. I would hate for it to become like MS windows where the user cannot control the how much and how big of an OS they need. Besides look how SUN,HP,and IBM screwed up UNIX when they decided on open standards. Try porting an app from SUN to HP UNIX and see what you get. Some of the best innovation has come from the free thinkers of linux because they have a free OS to develop on. I wonder if Mr. Paul Thomas is thinking of the Linux community or if he is just trying to find a way to stuff his own pockets. - by Rax

No doubt about it(10:08pm EST Mon Oct 09 2000)Mr. Thomas has no interest in actually helping the Linux community. He is very much interested in making a profit from his TurboLinux. He's also out to make a name and a point about the ability of profitting from Linux. I'm glad I got my copies for free at COMDEX and from V-Com's System Commander 2000 because I've never got either of them to install. So I'm very happy to not have given Mr. Profit any of MY money. His company could learn alot about writing an install program from the people at Mandrake. - by PRFunky

What?(10:29pm EST Mon Oct 09 2000)How would a single Linux contingency be as good as multiple distributors with several version. How would this be one entity different from the dreaded Microsoft? As to the question: “do you want Linux to be competing against itself, or Windows?” I say I want a choice and that is what Linux represented in the first place. With only one distribution that choice ends and in that case I don't care about Linux or Windows.

- by –

Doesn't anyone read?(12:39am EST Tue Oct 10 2000)I can't understand most of these comments. Linux will continue to be free. It will continue to be Open Source. You will still be able to pick up or make custom distributions. Just the major distributions are going to agree on certain parameters for cross distribution compatiblility. Which is great because we will then have a standard Linux as well as every flavour you could want. - by Chainsaw Sculptor

YES!(9:46am EST Tue Oct 10 2000)Thank you, Chainsaw Sculptor!

Man, at least someone has some brains in this group. - by Geez-o-peetz

Interesting link(11:27am EST Tue Oct 10 2000)Here are some issues that need to be resolved before Linux can move beyond it's current niche market.

http://www.wininformant.com/display.asp?ID=2944

It's from Winsupersite.com, an exellent site.- by 0311Grunt

Linux Standards Base(12:20pm EST Tue Oct 10 2000)Who's going to determine which standard's Linux will use? Does this mean that I'll no longer be able to combine a few packages to make a gui-less router distro?

Linux is shooting itself in the foot with its own success –You've got Red Hat charging $2000 for a non-open source version of the OS while FreeBSD is still free ….meanwhile, the rest of the Linux industry is trying to inflate it up to Windows-OS size to compete for the computer illiterate crowd.

Here are the things that made Linux cool:1. Free downloads2. Small and Fast3. Stable on a variety of platforms

Thanx;- by tim.ventura@attws.co

Linux to use(12:20pm EST Tue Oct 10 2000)Not all of us are Unix fans and can't warm up to Linux. Linux also to the average user is a pain to use, trying to track down drivers or make it work with different hardware. A user friendly version of Linux with drivers widely supported by manufacturers would be a welcome change from Microsoft, and from the “club” of Linux, where unless you love Unix you're out of luck. - by Neholac

Linux to Use(12:41pm EST Tue Oct 10 2000)It took me nearly a week to install Linux on my 486 due to driver issues, so I can certainly see that point of view, but on the other hand the learning from that experience was invaluable.

My 486-133 running Apache, Php3, and MySQL outperformed the Solaris / Oracle servers that we have here at work –by a wide margin. But when I try to load Staroffice on it I get an instant Win-flashback. The GUI is a great tool, but in that department Linux can't compete with the QNX gui (it fits on a floppy). For a more Solaris-feeling GUI Plan 9 takes the prize (and it's a distributed OS) - by Tim Ventura

Linux for all(1:12pm EST Tue Oct 10 2000)1. If you want standards in Linux I think that is great but you have to be careful who controls the standard.

2. Linux and Windows don't run on every computer. Some hardware is supported and some is not.

- by Rax

This comes down to support(1:38pm EST Tue Oct 10 2000)I think many of you have concern to be worried that the capitalists are taking over but at least give them a chance to do the right thing with our OS before we flame them mercilessly. I hope they are simply modifying all of (their own) linux distro's to provide a static system so the people who write drivers and commercial software can write a binary and be reasonably sure it will work with all the flavors of linux. At the present time, that can't happen. I love Wine, it is great, but a linux version of my favorite games and drivers for new hardware from the manufacturer would mean the world to me.It would likely also mean we wouldn't be special. I think I can live with that.

- by Robert

Well let's hope for the best(7:00pm EST Tue Oct 10 2000)I pray they do the right thing and Linux continues to grow. - by Rax

–(9:05pm EST Tue Oct 10 2000)Man, at least someone has some brains in this group. – by Geez-o-peetz

Yeah and it seems to be me. - by –

rh7.0(2:49am EST Wed Oct 11 2000)I just loaded RedHat 7.0 on 2 systems a celeron and a P5 166mhz and it went smooth. So I think is getting better all by itself. I for one would like to just let it evolve by itself and see what grows out of it. It's Darwin time and the best Linux might just come out on top. When you try to structure thing too much you end up with things like JAVA ADA and microsoft windows. Big and Slow and easy too kill. - by Rax

compatablity(12:30pm EST Thu Oct 12 2000)only conformity will lead to compatability & therefore people like me actually considering changing our companies from MSwindows to another o/s - by rjc

modem !?(1:48pm EST Sun Mar 14 2004) id there any linux based modems out there ? i have a 2wire modem and i was wondering if there is a better one out there? - by jeff from kazoo